For the second time in three games the Colorado Avalanche surrendered five goals in the third period, this time to the Edmonton Oilers, earning their fourth consecutive loss in the process. The 7-4 defeat, which saw Colorado surrenderer a two-goal lead in the game’s final frame, was their 50th regulation loss on the season.
Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher staked Colorado a 2-0 lead through the first 10 minutes of Thursday’s matchup at Pepsi Center. But just as they have done so many times this year, Colorado allowed goals very near the intermission to give their opponent hope. Andrej Sekera found the back of the net with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first period to cut the Avs’ lead in half. Then, Milan Lucic scored 26 seconds into the second period to level things.
Colorado came storming back in the second, however, with another goal from Rantanen and one from Rene Bourque to carry a 4-2 advantage into the the third. But just as they did on Sunday at Chicago, Colorado’s defense failed them down the stretch. Zack Kassian and Jordan Eberle each scored within the first five minutes of the period to square things at four. The two sides skated for another 12-plus minutes without ceding ground until Drake Caggiula broke the tie and opened the flood gates. Jordan Eberle caught Jeremy Smith between the bench and the net trying to skate off for an extra attacker and Leon Draisaitl added another empty-netter for the final stake.
At 50 losses, Colorado has now matched the Coyotes of 2014-15 and is one loss away from tying the Sabres of 2013-14 for the most regulation losses in the shootout era. Colorado has nine games remaining to surpass that dubious accomplishment.
